Mission: The Rockweed Coalition is a coalition of citizens working to promote conservation of intertidal marine habitat, and to end commercial cutting and removal of rockweed (the intertidal seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum) until studies can demonstrate that cutting rockweed does not harm the ecosystem.

Rockweed is critical habitat in Maine: 100 species (33 fish species and 74 other species) are associated with rockweed (Ascophyllum), including juvenile pollock, periwinkle snails, and lobster. Eider ducks and black ducks forage in rockweed.

Download this brochure on documented impacts of cutting rockweed.

See 2011 Rockweed Harvest Plans for Cobscook Bay.

"Rockweed harvesting can dramatically affect the organisms that rely on shelter that rockweed provides." (page 15, Gulf of Maine Marine Habitat Primer, download)

"Rockweed is used as a source of carrageenin, primarily as an emulsifier for food and cosmetics, and also for livestock feed and fertilizer. As a result, local harvesting has decreased intertidal rockweed habitat and possibly species diversity."

Cobscook Bay has the highest biodiversity of any area on the eastern seaboard of the United States north of the tropics.

Sector and Protected Lands Map (Maine Coast Heritage Trust; updated May 2011) shows rockweed sectors and all lands in Cobscook Bay where rockweed cutting is prohibited under Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §6803-C. This map also shows Rockweed Registry lands where landowners are on record as prohibiting rockweed cutting on their lands.

Report unwanted harvesting or harvesting in conservation areas toll free: 1-888-4ROKWEED (1-888-476-5933)